hay what about the TV'S GM had to get so the workers would show up for work on a packer monday, What a JOKE

Its Really Not The End Of The World...... Its Just The End Of The Line!!!!!!!! In A Way If You Think About It We Can Take Our Sub Pay And The Unemployment And Go Back To School (Blackhawk Tech) If You Have A Chance To Learn And Still Get Paid, WHAT IN THE BLUE HELL ARE YOU WAITING FOR!!!!!!!

People People You Have To Calm Down.... Easy In Easy Out____ Ya See Gauss Fraugh Abbah!!!!!!!! Just Breath....... In And Out....

Guess what? GM is now talking about shutting down the plant within 5 months. All of you who voted 2008 are probably correct. And to all of you who bash GM workers, (also Lear, Allied, LSI, etc) I can't wait till it trickles down and starts to affect the values of your home and the city will probably look to increase our taxes to pay for their ridiculous spending practices because alot of people will probably sell or lose their homes. KARMA is a %$#&*!

I think all the haters can kiss my I won't be digging no trash. I do hope you get a clue that we won't be needing any of your pity and you will get a reality check when things go down hill!

For the people that think the town/county will die without GM - look at the numbers: GM represented only 5% or the county's total payroll. Add in services to GM for another 3%, tops - this is by no means as devastating to the total picture as people are stating. Its a less than 10% drop across the board only if those GM'er stop spending the day the plant closes. We all know that they will be paid for up to 2 years after the closing or find other work. Either way they will keep spending on food, clothes and gas.

Ha! Ha!

For years GM workers have been looking down their noses at the rest of the county, soon they will be the ones prowling thru my trash looking for aluminum cans or offering to shovel snow for me.

A lot of GM workers are getting what they paid for. They paid for that foreign car or that Chrysler, Ford product that didn't put money back into GM or their retirement account. They bit the hand that fed them, while the other GM workers supported their company and carrying the load of the others.

DIG YOUR WELL BEFORE YOUR THIRSTY!!
ROOF YOUR HOUSE WHILE THE SUN IS SHINING!!

Ap2533~
Welcome to America! Loyalty means nothing to corporate America! Why can't people get that through their heads??? I know people have worked hard and sacrificed. I'm one of them. Nobody owes me anything either! If people want a piece of the pie out there, it's up to them to go get it! Nobody is promised anything. I believe people have earned their pensions and should be paid what they've been promised....does it matter what I or anyone else thinks? Nope! It's all about MONEY. It's not about the people. This isn't going to change either unless people start getting different thinking in their heads and start caring about the "other" person again. People are so stressed out and busy trying to keep their own heads above water that they've forgotten about the less fortunate one's. The way I feel, "if it's meant to be, it's up to me"

Once again the true green colors of most residents of this town show up. For you lifeisfab, you must be a mind reader to post such a bold statement saying "all the workers feel they are entitled". How do you know what they think. My husband has worked there for 29 years and in that time, we up rooted our family and moved to Ft. Wayne for 6 years. Also, the back breaking work performed by the workers literally broke his back. At the young age of 48, he has undergone 2 major back surgeries and is facing a third not to mention the shoulder surgery he endured a few years ago. He chose to work at the plant and did not "know" anyone who got him in. As for my family, we will come out of this just fine, it's the rest of the employees who did not take the buyouts and don't have enough time in to ride this out. These workers will have to move their lives and families elsewhere to make a living. I think they are lucky because they will get away from the pathetic people of Janesville who have not respect for what they do and what those jobs have provided this community. Keep in mind all the financial contributions GM and it's worker's have provided over the years.

peacegirl~
Well said. If people want to tear down people for the income they make for never have attended college, they can start with me. I admit it! My income level is rediculous when compared to my intelligence level or my level of education. These days, you have to be WISE. Smart enough to listen to new information is the key. The new information will make you wiser. Welcome to the information age!

Like it or hate it! GM put bread on our family's table and clothes on our backs for many many years! My Dad worked down there since he was 18 and he retired when he was 60! He worked on the busting his butt,worked in supervisor on the truck line,then he finally after putting in many many years,he worked in maintenance! Sure that is a pretty gravy job,but HE EARNED IT! He worked long long hours and NOT ONCE did I ever hear my Dad complain about his job...EVER! Sometimes he worked 7 days a week,yes the money was good! We lived in no big fancy house,nor did we have fancy clothes or cars. My Dad had a family to raise! He did it and he did it well! I am sick of hearing people whine about how much the GM workers make (made) without a college education and such. Well then why didn't you apply at GM then? Stop complaining and get a life! I am sorry GM is going to close,it will affect all aspects of Janesville and companies like Lear. I do not envy the GM workers at all - GOOD LUCK!

Sad fact here. Most of the 30% who voted the plant would be closed by the end of 2008, most likely are tickled pink about that. I put in my time down there, hated every minute of it, couldn't stand waking up day after day and facing the place and for years, blamed GM for my miserable life. I came to realize, it was my own choice to work there. I had the ability to walk out anytime I felt like it! Once I came to that realization, I left. Does that mean I hate GM or wish ill will for others who weren't as fortunate as me to get out when I did??? NO!
Before I hired into GM in '97, I had my own, uneducated opinion of GM and it's workers. When I left in '06, I definately knew how idiotic my original opinion was! I have a deep respect for many of the people who busted their tails day in and day out for that company. Are there other hard workers outside of GM? Of course. The "stigma" that GM employees are stuck with is unwarranted. Granted, just like every other place, there are those who didn't exactly pull their own weight down there as well. Walk a mile in someone else's shoes once and it's amazing how much different your perspective may become!
God bless everyone!

heh, this poll has received over 1,000 votes.... has any other gazette poll received that many?

I can't believe anyone would revel in someone else's misfortune. I have no relatives that have worked for GM and feel great sadness to see this icon closing. The loss of a job is always a horribly traumatic event in anyone's life. People that think the loss of Gm, Lear, LSI and other places will not affect them had better wake up. Who will compensate for the loss of taxes these companies paid? The taxpayers! They are probably the same people that think Bush is a great president. This country cannot survive without the blue collar workers as they are the people buying most of the products. At the rate this country is going the whole country will go belly up not too far down the road. Between the loss of industry , the war costing billions in dollars and lives, high fuel prices etc. we might as well be on the Titanic. Another 4 years of this type of thinking and we will all be broke. I personally have never owned a foreign vehicle and own 3 American products and am happy with all of them. Every member of my family has been a union worker and if we lose the unions we can all go back to working minimum wage jobs like the sweat shop days. GM also set the bar high as far as other employers paying a liveable wage. You cannot live on $8 an hour and keep your head above water. I have never made wages like GM, but certainly don't begrudge those people that chose to work there that right. Most of the jobs there are very hard physically on your body especially on the line. You earn that money! I think those that write in saying they are glad about those plants closing had better scrape their money together and invest in a good psychiatrist. It is a very sick line of thinking. Everyone where I work has been very down about this news and I wish only the best to all of these hard working people.

I find it interesting that the Gazette editorial in Sunday's paper asks us to "Put animosity behind, move ahead together". A good start would be no more divisive poll questions on GM.

I agree, this is sad. But from a different perspective. The EEs at GM have a sense of entitlement. They believe that they were "owed" the money and a lifetime job at GM. They are so far out of touch with the rest of the local economy and realistic wages that, for many of them, they'll never 'get it' and will end up being very, very bitter. Many will spend the rest of their life complaining about how they were 'screwed' out of their job. Others will move on - they'll take the job re-training offered by the Company and State and get a more realistic-paying job. So many people wanted to get a job at GM, but as mentioned above, it's not what you know, it's who. If you didn't get an application from an existing EE, you couldn't even apply. Now, those same power-hungry idiots are going to be out looking for jobs with the rest of the population. See how far that gets you! This is a good lesson for our children (a teachable moment). Remind our children to be nice to everyone - you may need a favor one day!!!

General Motors is running over capacity wich means there are too many factories for the amount of cars they are selling. High fuel costs are one of the reasons. The fans of free trade agreements are getting their paybacks now. China is making huge amounts of goods for the U.S. and in the process are using vast amounts of oil. This in turn causes skyrocketing gas prices.So this causes the job losses. When somebody claims how good free trade is don't beleive them.

Yes my husband works at GM. He is a skilled worker, not a line worker. He makes a decent wage but his exwife's plan of getting more of his paycheck than he does worked, so we are not living large by any means, she is. So to be quite honest, this hurts her more than us, and she is a MAJOR shopper - her only form of happiness. What's gonna happen when she doesn't have her 24 hundred a month to spend at the mall, and fast food places? So all you GM bashers will be standing in line BESIDE the GM workers! Taxes will go up, stores besides auto related ones will close - that includes the burger joints, retail, and gas stations. This closing will effect the bashers just as much as the workers! So we who live off of wages from GM feel your fear of the future. We all know your scared about loosing your jobs when the GM workers no longer have money to spend at your place of employment. Not to mention all the money we now give our church and charities.

So all you who work in the mall, resturants, car dealers, relators, travel agenets, day spas, furniture stores and everything else in Janesville, we know you are bashing just because you are afraid of Janesville's future just as we are.
And let me be the first to say, I understand what your going through.

Hey Gm was making huge profits off the suv even while paying a good wage so I don't think you can blame the employees for this one. If they had a good selling poduct they would remain open but they have chosen not to invest here and downsize the corporation. and I don't work there but from what I saw most of them earned their money

The closing of Janesville come from greed from GM/The Union/and the Employees.

DDoright-apparently anyone who makes good wages/benefits-or anything more than they do. It's useless-one of these who's sick of hearing about GM even posted about their hatred in a WEATHER UPDATE! I came here to look for weather updates-and they even brought it in there!
Talk about one can short of a six pack!

About that comment about "drug users" not getting into GM, we ALL know it's not WHAT you know, it's WHO you know that got you in. And it's greed that put you out. Making the hourly wages management and workers do, in this economy, what did people expect? If everyone would have agreed to a pay cut years ago people might have had their jobs longer. I recall all the pickets going on for more money. And I DO have relatives that work there, and, to put this as nice as I can, they are one can short of a six-pack. Most of the workers there have someone they know that got them in, period. Nothing to do with brains at all.

My question is.... who will all these "people" hate next? Which lucky employer/employee's will have to endure this misguided hatred?

Well hahagm-if that is your complaint-most would, of course, agree with you that all the affected people should get coverage, help, and concern from their fellow Rock County citizens-and, as you’ve hopefully noticed-they do. Do remember, though, that GM employees didn’t put the articles in the paper-they did not choose this fate, nor do they add the greatest number of posts. It has been mostly "uninvolved" bystanders like you and I. As Mooklet says, GM has been around long before most other employers in Janesville, has many more employees than those other ones and its fate will be somewhat of a deciding factor in those other ones’ futures-so that surely is why it is most written about.
I, for one, have family working at many of those places to soon be affected: GM, Lear, and SSI (and the recently in the news Simmons). Do you think I, for example, wish the GM workers in my family have a better future than the others? Not a chance, and I actually worry about those from GM (just a little) less. But they are the ones being bad-mouthed, so I throw in my 99 cents.
Now that I know your story and personal involvement, and with your permission, I will pray for you specifically along with the ones I know, as I have prayed in general (or I could say “wished the best”-depending on how individuals feel) for a stable future for all affected.

Well hahagm GM workers aren't crying its the general public crying get it right. The Gazette likes to stir up trouble when Gm is gone the paper will be in trouble because they won't have the comment bashing section. Sometimes the gazette talks about others closing the doors but they don't headline it like GM because they want people they can dangle like puppets and get all the views they can and what better story then this. Just look at the most talk subjects its this one and when this fades and dies out maybe it might be a story about you or other closing you just wait you'll have your turn! For the people sick and tired of hearing about it STOP putting in comments and maybe the paper will move on they're stringing you like puppet....

The poll doesn't ask when you would like to see the plant closed, it asks when do you think that it will close. This is a prediction based on trends in sales, available inventory, and the general economy. It has nothing to do with who is a GM worker, who is a GM hater, or whether light beer tastes great or is less filling (neither). I think that the caveat attached to the announced closing date indicates that it will be sooner rather than later. I would be extremely happy to see the plant continue and gradually expand employment, but I don't think that it is gonna happen.

Yes Hahagm I agree with you, they do seem to want to make it a big deal. I think that's only because GM has been here for a little over 100years. And it one of the largest employers in southern WI. It makes me sad to keep on reading about it because my husband who is a third generation GM worker though he could possibly have a career he enjoyed. But like millions of workers today in the United States loosing their jobs from small to large companies it is not going to happen. The newspaper beats these stories to the ground because I really think the newspaper for my past 36years from what I have read really honestly does not like GM.

I am not a GM hater...I have friends and family that work there..the thing that is getting under my skin is the fact it's such a big deal...what about when some of the smaller companys close down, do we hear about those poor employee's for weeks? No we sure don't..there are alot more ppl loosing jobs other than GM...they at least get to walk away with a nice benifit package...thats all..

Hi- I am 36yrs old. I grew up in Janesville,WI.
Ever since I can remember growing up as a diehard Ford fan everyone has always had their opinions about GM. I can tell you mine was always hearing negative comments from when their was a strike to them making too much money. As I got older I met my husband and he just happened to be right out of the army. He was lucky years later to get a job at GM. I with time learned to be open minded and realize not all of the rumors I heard and read from the newspaper were true. This plant has been here for a little over 100years. Longer than any of these people emailing their opinions. I even worked down at GM for 7Months in the summer of 2006. From peoples negative opinions to negative outlooks unless you have had a chance to work there people will always be judge the workers at GM. Let's face it nothing positive wiil ever be read or said about the plant. It's a no win situation. If I can go from being open minded from Ford-Chevy. Why cant others.
I feel sorry for Rock County and surrounding area. From the donations from the workers for various collections like the coat&mitten drive to toys and free groceries. Alot of the community relies on this during christmas and tru out the year. The plant does a whole lot of giving to everybody and our community. Please don't judge so harshly until you think how this plant closing is going to effect even you to.

See what I mean? hahagm? If that name doesn't tell you something...
But you were right about one thing for ALL of us who aren't involved, haha (I feel silly writing that)-get a life and move on.

I am so tired of hearing about GM worker crying..they have lived the high life with their high pay, showing off their their new houses and trucks, when the rest of us have been working harder for half the cash. As far as ppl commiting suicide over the loss of their job, I am sure that was not the whole reason...what about the pple who have commited suicide who didn't work there for all that money who had to scrape to get by...Give me a break please...there are other issues behind it, so don't write about GM closing and ruining your life..get a life and move on, get a new job that pays less like the rest of us who has survived without working there!

I agree with those who are complaining about all the whiners and SO MANY GM posts. WOW!
But here is where I differ: GM workers aren’t the whiners (I can’t find all those posts the real whiners claim exists-show me.) and the GM workers are not the ones who extend these posts to such great lengths. It’s mostly just the real complainers who hate GM & related stories, and then those of us who wish them (and others in the same boat) well. If well-wishers didn’t post, those of you who can’t stand the GM stories would be mostly alone here-the majority. Ironic isn’t it?
What? You keep saying these are open forums and you have a right to post and can if you want to? (But don’t afford others the same right?) Well then how can you complain about having to read the article first? Or do you spew your ill will under all GM stories without reading them so those looking for new insight or information have to slog through your posts to find it? What a waste of your time-and everyone else’s.
And you tell those GM workers to shut-up, it’s time to move on? Don’t you see the incongruity in that? This is their life-what IS IT to you? A hobby?
But I’m sure the GM workers are happy for the raise some of you have given them, the claims have varied greatly in different stories-the latest one was right here on this page-now the workers earn $40/hour! plus benefits.

Sorry, I couldn't vote. There was no option for 'Don't really care!'

to all you people that cut down GM workers, sorry you didnt pass the " drug tests" to get in there. Oh, and you better get your self a real good job, The GM work force is very educated and they will get the good job before you if they so choose.

I feel bad for the gm workers i have family and friends there,But they atleast have a life raft of 3 years at atleast 85% wages and opertunities to retrain.I think that is why people get a little tired of hearing about gm.Who i feel really bad for is lear and the rest who are losing jobs and get no extra benifits and you read very little about them. good luck to all i hope you find the silver lining.

Realisticly, how long did anyone think that
vehicles with monthly payments larger than some
mortgages that drink gas, was going to last!?
This does not require a group of rocket scientists to figure out! That said, we will
all feel the pinch of GM leaving. Can you imagine what is going to our property tax bills.
Oh, good times ahead!

I left Janesville a number of years ago. I'm really glad I left when I did. I couldn't seem to make a living. One company that I worked for in Janesville, moved away, after taking truck loads of money from the State of Wisconsin, promising to keep a certain number of jobs in Wisconsin. I believe that GM has made similiar pledges. Another company that I worked for decided to cease production operations in Rock County. It will be interesting to see what will become of Janesville's population in subsequent years, after GM is gone. What will Janesville become? A collection of fast food and discount stores where workers from these stores sell their services and goods to each other?

BostonBill~
Agreed. Positive attitude, positive results.

As I understand it GM will build the orders in the system and the incoming 09 orders, so that will keep the plant open until the end of January 09! Then it will be the end of the line as we know it........

There are some very "interesting" comments in here, both negative and positive, but why have some of us seem to have forgotten that we are all in this crazy economy together. We make different wages doing different jobs but we are all striving to make a living. Anger is an expression of frustration and I, like many here, am angry and frustrated about some things, but I try to understand and refocus it. Freedom of speech is one of the most wonderful things about this country but we should learn how to do it in a productive way. Just my opinion.

People are just upset because they are facing an uncertain future. Please try to have a little compassion for everyone. Change is always stressful and there are a lot of changes going on that we have little or no control over.

Janesville has too many mean people.

Actually I'm quite happy myself. I just don't want to hear union workers whine when the well runs dry. They saw it coming, but many lived high on the hog.

I think the actual number that GM was tax rated at for all of it's Janesville properties was like $980,000. Now the way I understand it is that they recieve some tax credits that lowered the figure by a lot. But you know they still own the properties so they WILL still be paying those taxes and I presume without any special tax credits so the city will make out better in this respect. I would hope the city finds away to make them pay even more.

Wow. I can't believe the jealouse (or maybe just stupid) people who write these comments about someone who makes more money than they do, without even walking a day in their shoes! They're probably saying the same thing about firemen, policemen, doctors, CEO's of oil companies, etc. Joe_dirt is obviously very disappointed with his life.

"If you're sick or hearing about it, why are you reading about it as well??? "

Maybe it's because the Gazette doesn't post about much of anything else, lately. I have the right to my opinion and I say MOVE ON.

A community that banks its entire future on gas-guzzler building factory work, might as well be playing the craps table with its taxes.

www.unitedwayjanesville.org

Heres a little food for thought ...... General Motors paids $850,000.00 in TAXES a year .$325,000. of that is school tax,225,000. is city tax...... WHO do you people think is going to make up the lost $$$$$ ???? Property values have all ready gone down in Janesville because of this news.You say thats ok because your not moving or selling your house. How many people want to move to a city with low paying jobs,foreclosed homes and a city /state that tax you to death ?This is not news for anyone to be happy about,lets all put aside the comments that we are getting what we deserve ! NO FAMILY YOUNG OR OLD DESERVES TO LOOSE THEIR JOBS !!United Way has said that 20% of their funds come from GM workers !!! Whos going to make this up ?For those that don't know what U.W does go to United Way.org and see what they do with the money. For you that think this isn't going to effect you ?? Think again,this will effect the WHOLE county and everyones jobs in one way or another.Lets move past the angry comments and TRY to see the whole picture of what is coming to OUR COMMUNITY !!

Additionally, this should be a valuable lesson: If you overprice your value as a laborer in a global market, be prepared to decrease your job security.

Hard to feel sorry for union workers who get the choice of a golden parachute to leave, or simply relocate to another town's factory. Party is over, go someplace else to make $40 an hour on an assembly line + benefits.

All the line supervisor's I've talked to said they figured around Christmas this year. Days on hand went up tp 224 for Yukons. The low was Suburbans at 160. GM is still building these things like gangbusters though. Arlington is working OT big time. They are on the 8 hour schedule but are working 9's, everyday including Saturdays and have some Sundays scheduled as well. Go figure.

Well said BrewerFan, well said. They're just a bunch of folks trying to eek out a living.

wow friend 52 I apalled that you think this way. Not all of these people have these expensive toys you talk about, they are trying to make a living the same as you and I. Their whole world just got torn down to nothing and this is how you react. I feel very sorry for thier loss and for the loss of jobs for all the surrounding facilities this is going to effect too. I wish you all the very best and I hope you are all able to pull through.

You G M workers are just upset because you won't get all of your expensive toys anymore get over it and move on like anyother person would have too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well said redder!

Look its over, take what they give you (which is fabulous) go to school, retire, or go else where. It is time to pull Janesville up by the boot straps and head in another direction. Lets move forward, lets grow as a community and help our brothers when they are down but head in a direction of possitive learning and commitment to community. Lets fix what is broken, and achieve the goals that we as a community deam important. Not dwell in what has happened, and stay down. Look to the future, it is bright.

If you're sick or hearing about it, why are you reading about it as well??? You usually have a choice about what you read in the news. So if you don't like it, quit reading stories about it!

Get it over with. I'm SO sick of hearing about it!